₦airaland Forum

004gist:
Few days from now they will be discussing granting indefinite leave to remain in UK for Healthcare workers in just two years as against the 5 years in which Nigerians are to benefit greatly for this

But we know that kemi will oppose it and she benefited from something like this in past.

She wants to oppose everything black to gain trust of the white

Is the pitiable condition of Nigeria and Nigerians not bad enough for anybody to oppose the Nigerian leaders and denigrate them? Why can't we prove her wrong by eschewing corruption and begin to build a nation? It is not too late to do this... we can begin today if we want the Badenochs and the rest of the world to take us seriously.

Maxymilliano:
https://www.thecable.ng/she-is-not-interested-in-doing-nigerias-pr-kemi-badenochs-aide-replies-shettima/

It is about Nigerian leaders/rulers - not the country. So, we need more of her who would speak the truth about the corruption in Nigeria by the leaders and the "jankara" elites.

Bobloco:
https://dailypost.ng/2024/12/11/court-halts-publication-sale-of-farotimis-book-orders-police-dss-to-seize-copies/

Just ordered some copies on Amazon... Baba needs to go to the US to get similar injunction to stop Amazon from distributing the book . In the US where freedom of speech is guaranteed in the first amendment.

press9jatv:
the fg approved land is Ido Osun and it’s much useful and good for airport projects. Adeleke lost the one again.

What do you mean by "FG approved land..."?

This is a state project, owned and financed by the state. The state can decide to locate it anywhere they want. They only need to meet the rules and regulations set out by Civil Aviation Authority.

Thunderfayamods:
You people will not face facts but only insults!
Tell me the importance of airport in Osun or how bad the state needs it.

I agree, airport shouldn't be the priority of a state like Osun.

press9jatv:
https://thenationonlineng.net/fg-halts-adelekes-move-to-relocate-osun-airport-project-to-ede-amid-protests/amp/

Who are those people in Ido-Osun protesting the relocation? Is the existing location not also in Ede? Is it not just that it is on the Ido-osun side of Ede? It is like moving something from one corner of a room to another corner - probably a corner that is closer to the door.

Those guys protesting should go and look for work to do. The new location is far better for Osun state and a lot more accessible for people from all parts of the state. Airport is not a birth right of any town or village in Osun and it is not just for the people of a particular place. Therefore, the location must be one that benefits the state in general.
.

Abbeytoy:
The useless lady or girl calls all the Nigerian nurses in the UK ashawo, na since then, I do not rate her no matter her achievements in life.

Did you bother to check if she was saying the truth about the Nigerian nurses? You can be a nurse and still be ashawo and that's why a lot of them are single mothers... Same in the US.

And put the PDP?

We need a break from both the APC and PDP.

Mindlog:
Shettima should face his front.

And stop the looting and rapping of the countries by politicians of which he is one. Let the Nigerian politicians for once work for the development of the country and see how they would be respected anywhere they go. Today's Nigerian politicians may have illicit money but who respects them again? They are looked down upon like common criminals anywhere they go

Nigerians should understand that the case of Dele Farotimi against Aare Afe Babalola, CON,OFR, SAN is one of the most significant cases to come up in Nigeria in this decade. It is a case where a man is persecuted with the instrument of state power for saying the truth against a powerful person in Nigeria and against the Nigerian judiciary. In my work as the head of Due Process Advocates (DPA) Foundation, I have evidence to substantiate the contentious assertions made by Farotimi.

For those who do not understand the issues at stake; in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, Farotimi stated that Afe Babalola had exerted some corrupting influence over the Nigerian judiciary. That assertion is a candid opinion based on facts. It is true as to Afe Babalola and as to the Nigerian judiciary. The only thing surprising in all this is the fact that Farotimi had the courage to say it in a book. From one incident involving Afe Babalola that I am aware of, I easily came to the same conclusion as Farotimi. I encountered the power and influence of Afe Babalola. He possesses no doubt a pervasive and probably corrupt influence over the judiciary and the police.

In that case, I realized how impossible it would be for me to confront the man because I could see that the police and the courts would not be fair or just in any matter in which the man’s name was mentioned. I was left with the impression that if Afe Babalola had an interest in any matter, the Nigerian justice system was as good as a jungle justice system. It was a extensive influence by one man over the whole system of justice, which clearly undermined any notion that the courts are the last hope of an ordinary person.

If you wonder about the encounter I am speaking about, it has to do with a case of domestic violence and child custody dispute between one Dr. Nnamdi Ikpeze and his wife Florence. Dr. Ikpeze is a law lecturer in Afe Babalola University. He had a dispute with his wife, Florence, which resulted in the wife fleeing from Ekiti to Port Harcourt with their three minor children. Her reason for fleeing was to escape domestic violence. She had reported the incident of domestic violence to DPA before she moved to Port Harcourt. She contacted us again months later and reported an ongoing police arrest incident. What happened was that she had file a petition for custody at the Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt. It was a petition against her husband, Dr. Ikpeze. The case was ongoing and the processes had been served on the husband, including a hearing notice.

Instead of Dr. Ikpeze responding to the court in Port Harcourt, he went to Afe Babalola who apparently took his side and decided to protected him from having to respond to the court in Port Harcourt. Instead of appearing in court, with the backing of Afe Babalola, Dr. Ikpeze procured the police from Ekiti Command to drive all the way to Port Harcourt to arrest Florence and their three children and Florence’s sister. They were taken all the way from Port Harcourt to Ekiti State where the police simply handed the children over to Dr. Ikpeze, while Florence was held at the police station.

DPA sent letters to the police demanding due process for the lady. The next day, police made it clear that the parties should go to “Baba” who would adjudicate the matter. It was clear that the police were acting under the instruction of “Baba”. The Baba was Afe Babalola. They treated him like God. It is always dangerous when a man plays God.

We learnt that the mother of Dr. Ikpeze was also a lawyer who happened to be the Dean of the Law Faculty at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Afe Babalola without consideration of the law or the facts of the case, took the side of Dr. Ikpeze. By the way, my letters on the matter was presented to Babalola. Dr. Ikpeze and his mother were busy telling Babalola all manner of lies against my person. They told Afe Babalola that I was disbarred and therefore that my letter did not deserve any consideration. (I attach the content of my letter below). For such highly-placed people to peddle such petty lie against me over a child custody issue, you have to weep for Nigeria and its corrupt judicial system.

The whole experience was quite shocking to me. I had thought that a man like Afe Babalola would be interested in upholding the law and in ensuring that people would be treated fairly. But, instead, he became the law himself and decided who should get justice and should not and he gave justice to those who worshipped him. As an American-trained lawyer, I found the whole thing disgusting. I couldn’t fight him because I truly understood that he had the judges and the police in his pocket. I am happy that someone else had the same opinion of him and was brave enough to write a book on it. The manner in which they have treated Dele Farotimi is just evidence that his book is right and timely. It is the best book in Nigeria today and the world should take notice of its content.

It is an irony that the legacy of Afe Babalola may end up a legacy of judicial corruption. Let them keep arresting anybody who speaks the truth against them. But if I am a free man, I will be more than eager to testify in favor of Farotimi.

MY LETTER TO AFE BABALOLA

December 27, 2023

AARE AFE BABALOLA, CON, OFR, SAN
Founder Afe Babalola University
Ado Ekiti
Ekiti State

Dear Chief Afe Babalola,

IN THE MATTER OF MR. NNAMDI GEORGE IKPEZE VERSUS MRS. ONYINYE FLORENCE IKPEZE AND MRS. JOSEPHINE UCHE MBELU

Compliments of the season!

We are a human rights and humanitarian NGO. We received a report from the family of Mrs. Josephine Uche Mbelu alleging that a team of police officers from Ekiti State Command arrested Mrs. Josephine Uche Mbelu, her daughter, Mrs. Onyinye Florence Ikpeze, and three children of Mrs. Ikpeze, (hereinafter referred to as the “victims”). According to the report, this incident occurred on 22nd and 23rd of December, 2023 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. We further learned that the police officers from Ekiti State Command moved the victims from Rivers State to Ekiti State by road and they arrived in Ado Ekiti around 7:00pm on 23rd of December, 2023. While the victims were being moved to Ado Ekiti, we were able to speak with the officers. They were polite and professional, and they provided some useful information that helped our understanding of what was going on.

Upon their arrival in Ado Ekiti, we stayed in touch with the victims and the officers in charge of their case. At some point, it was decided by the officers involved that the victims would be released by the police on the condition that Mrs. Ikpeze would hand her two eldest children to Dr. Ikpeze, while she would keep the youngest child till further notice. She had no choice because it was the condition for the release of her and her mother. In the morning of 24thDecember, when they came back to the station to finalize their release, Mrs. Ikpeze was informed that a call came directly from the Commissioner of Police that Mrs. Ikpeze MUST hand over ALL the three children to Mr. Ikpeze, instead of the eldest two previously stated. Again, Mrs. Ikpeze had no choice as that was the condition for her release.

This morning, Mrs. Ikpeze and her poor mother went back to the police as directed by the police. While waiting to be attended to a bailiff from Ekiti High Court came there so serve a divorce petition on Mrs. Ikpeze. According to information available to us, Mr. Ikpeze demanded that Mrs. Ikpeze be prosecuted for abducting her children. The police directed all the parties to your office. The parties looked up to you to resolve the dispute and you ruled that that custody of the children should be with their father. In order words, you decided all the issues that are pending in all the courts. As we write this letter, Mrs. Ikpeze has still not seen her children ore spoken with them.

In the periods between the victims arrival in Ado Ekiti and a few hours ago, we had extensive communication with Mr. Ikpeze himself. Some of the communications with him were in writing. So, we have evidence of what was said and his responses to the questions we asked him. It became clear to us that the entire police operation was for the purpose of transferring custody of the minor children from one parent to the other parent, in a clear usurpation of the court.

Mr. Ikpeze, who is a lawyer, disingenuously tried to explain to us that there was a criminal petition filed and that there was a state crime committed by his wife. We use the word disingenuously because there were several indications that the whole effort of the police was procured under circumstances that can be rightly be described as corrupt.

In fact, Mr. Ikpeze, in his effort to explain these extraordinary events, informed us that the custody dispute between him and his wife got to the attention of “Baba”, whom he later explained to be the highly respect “Chief Afe Babalola”, your good self, who happens to own the university where Dr. Ikpeze works. Though he didn’t categorically say so, he gave us a distinct impression that you were the engine that powered the entire show. We took special note of your name when mentioned. You are obviously one of the most revered lawyers and non-political leaders of Nigeria with extraordinary influence in this country, especially in the nation’s legal and judicial community. We are sure that when Mr. Ikpeze dropped your name, he expected us to shiver and whether away. But we felt that you are a fair and wise elder who would understand the gravity of the chain of events that have transpired. We must admit that the mentioning of your name and the role you are reported to have played have deepened our concerns rather than allaying them.

OUR CONCERNS:
1. There has a pending lawsuit on the issue of child custody and child support between the same parties and in respect of the same children, which was filed on the 13th of September, 2023.

2. On 30th November, 2023, the Court issued an order for substituted service of process on Mr. Ikpeze, setting the next hearing date to be 20th December, 2023.
3. On the 20th December, 2023, Mr. Ikpeze failed to show up in court because he had a plan. His plan was to use your influence and the police to intervene on the matter and to usurp the powers of the court.

4. In our conversation with Mr. Ikpeze, he bragged in writing that he would go to court the next time, now that the police have given him the children.

5. Based on the update we received this evening, it appears that you have decided all the issues pending before the courts, leaving Mrs. Ikpeze no option than to bend over and take whatever is given to her.

In conclusion, sir, while we will give you the benefit of doubts and assume that you were misled by the stories told by Mr. Ikpeze, who has displayed extraordinary tendency toward falsehood and manipulation, we are constrained to urge you to be fair and to allow the judicial process to play out without any interference from your powerful position. Thank you and God bless.

Yours truly,

____________________
E. C. Ugwuonye, Esquire
Executive Director

Seeing this makes me wonder if our leaders (across all tiers of government) have anything call shame.
Here we have a renowned lawyer in handcuff all because he dared to speak the truth while people who are accused of looting billions and abusing their office are treated like celebrities in our courts. This is not good for our country. It is not good for today and it is not good for the future of the country.

How can any leader/elder be happy building a country that punishes people for daring to speak out their mind while we celebrate people who are accused of looting, stealing, etc.

SmartyPants:
Are you kidding?? Books are perserved for hundreds of years after the lifetime of their author... Would you allow a book containing defamatory material about you to soil your legacy without answer?

Stop pretending to be dumb.

The truth should be preserved for centuries so the future generations could lean from it. Have you read El-Rufai's "The Accidental Public Servant"? If you haven't, please read it and come back to tell us what Farotimi wrote in his book that El-Rufai didn't write about Obasanjo, etc.

Lifestone:
So you are going to tell Afe how to seek redress for the injury he suffered. The law permit him to charge Dele criminally, we should respect his choice.

What injury did he suffer? In which court was it decided that he suffered injury? Claiming to have suffered injury is different from having actually suffered injury. Farotimi said the truth about the man and the way he was arrested and remanded corroborated everything he said in the book. In a just society, which is what we want, he hasn't slandered or libeled anybody - he said the truth about them. Afebabalola can write his own book to defend himself.

emkz:
It is time we all begin to condemn the weaponization of protests by Omoyele Sowore.

We must not sit idly and be selective when it comes to issues bordering on national security.

Mr Dele Farotimi not only made some damning allegations against Afe Babalola SAN in a book, he also made same in a press conference.

According to Afe Babalola's petition against Dele Farotimi, he petitioned that Dele Farotimi alleged as follows:



What has been established?

1. Dele Farotimi himself admitted there was a bench warrant issued against him to appear in Ekiti State to answer to the summons. wWhy didn't he honour the invitations? He claimed he committed the crime in Lagos and saw no reason to be called to Ekiti. Which law school did he even attend?

2. Instead of attending to the warrants, Dele Farotimi rushed to do a press conference to make claims that Afe Babalola was using the judiciary to bully him. No one questioned his accusations; they just believed him, because in their eyes, he could do no wrong.

3. If there is a bench warrant, how is it illegal? Can it be vacated? How? If yes, why didn't he seek a superior court order to vacate it?

4. Sahara Reporters and People's Gazette are being used to villify Afe Babalola to the effect that they even lied that King's College was considering their relationship with Afe Babalola. I think they should be added to the law suit.

5. Some people do not understand that human rights activism is not a license to bully those they don't like. Many of the latter-day human rights so-called activists are using their voice to terrorize and destroy others. There must be accountability for things said.

What we see is that there is unjustified anger by a certain mob against Afe Babalola, which we consider unfair. Dele Farotimi made some allegations against Afe Babalola and the Supreme Court as well as Justices of the Supreme Court, including Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour. It is incumbent upon Dele Farotimi to prove those allegations so that if anyone is corrupting our Supreme Court, the person is identified and EFCC steps in, and all judges involved are punished. Otherwise, let the law be applied on such if a case of defamation is established. It is also a matter that borders on national security if our Supreme Court is said to be corruptible and corrupted. If justices were compromised, the sensible thing to do would be to submit a petition to the NJC. If that was not done, then it amounts to malice to rush to write a book without substantiating such accusations. I urge the DSS to invite Dele Farotimi to come and give explanations on what he knows about corruption in the judiciary.

As for Afe Bababola, do not bow to the pressure of the mob. The name you have built for yourself and your children is being rubbished. Deploy every legal arsenal you have to ensure that Dele Farotimi proves everything he accused you of.

I'd also call upon the young ones who join protests senselessly. Omoyele Sowore is a failed politician who uses protests to advance his failed political ambitions. He misled some of our young ones to riots last August. Remember that some of them died. Has he visited their families? Do not allow yourself to be a weapon in the hands of a failed revolution monger, please.

What do you mean by weaponization of protests? Don't we all know how defamation issues are usually handled? Why should we condone rascality by the powerful people using the institutions of government to harass other citizens? Exactly what Farotimi talked about in his book is what we are seeing now. Can we therefore say he libeled or slandered someone? He said the simple truth about those involved.

God1000:
https://punchng.com/jonathans-2027-campaign-posters-flood-kano-streets/?


Previous thread https://www.nairaland.com/8284721/goodluck-jonathan-2027-campaign-posters

Team New Nigeria and Jonathan is their preferred candidate? New Nigeria indeed

blacksam01:
Very very true... Let it extent to all form of national revenue... Including oil earning.. not only where tinubu's Lagos have comparative advantage...

It should not b about only VAT, also all oil earnings also... Let's the argument begin

There is 13% derivation for Oil already... it can be increased though.
The question, however, is, what have they been doing with the 13% derivation? Those states should be richer than some countries by now. Unfortunately, even ordinary infrastructure, they haven't been able to provide for their people. We all know why...

Edygrin:
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on social media, Dada Olusegun, has disclosed that the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwanwaso planned the same tax reform.


https://dailypost.ng/2024/12/03/tax-reform-bills-you-had-same-plans-tinubus-aide-replies-kwankwaso/

If the north opposes the proposed tax reform, I tell you it means the reform is good for Nigeria.

Hogwarthtrades:
can you help with a copy of the bill please? can't lay my hands on the whole thing, TIA

Don't waste your time reading the shit.
It is nothing more than a script put together by a gluttonous government that wants to have more money at its disposal to loot and share with friends. I have been asking, what's the policy direction or agenda of this government whether it is 2 points or 3 points agenda? What's government working to achieve for the country and her citizens? Concrete policy direction... I haven't seen anything. Yes, he wants to generate more revenue. Where will the money go once generated? It is a case of let's generate the revenue first and we decide what to do with the "windfall". We all know what happens to anything called "windfall". It is usually looted and wasted.

WizardOfNG:
Efficient and increased collection of taxes will significantly improve your standard of living.

You pay fairly high taxes in the best nations of the world, with excellent Infrastructure and healthcare etal, that are collected efficiently.

Same must be birthed here. Nigeria has been living in the 16th century under past President. Tinubu is trying hard to advance us into the 21st century where others have reached.

Tax collection is one thing, utilizing the collected tax for the betterment of the country is a completely different thing.

What are the tax projections?

What are the plans for projected tax collection?

How would these plans transform the country and better the life of Nigerians?

When politicians just want to collect as much money as they can without any plan, Nigerians won't get anything eventually. Only the politicians and their contractor friends would get richer.

DeKing234:
Mad Government.
Nigeria irks me.

Nonsense. The worst is....mad youths will still go ahead and say Tinubu is doing well by abusing peter obi

Whoever votes for Tinubu in 2027 must be really mad and requires urgent attention

Zonefree:
You're even worse.

Presently, you're going through excess shege that's the only reason you're writing like a normal being.

Yuneva C Enitin.

Far from the truth... I am not a politician and don't need anything from a politician to live a fulfilling life. As a matter of fact, I am not affected by whatever Tinubu is doing. That said, I didn't support him just because I wanted a Yoruba person to be there but rather the expectation that he would perform. Now, we can see failure everywhere. Will I say because I supported him, he shouldn't be called out? The answer is NO. Whoever failed should be called out... that's the patriotic thing to do. It shouldn't be a case of covering your own while you attack others - we could have done that but that's not how to build a nation.

etrouble:
We will surprise you again as we did in 2015, 2019 and 2023. You will cry blood when you see the results of 2027 Presidential election

Man, you didn't support the APC and Tinubu more than I did. You can search for my previous comments and posts here on Nairaland. I have never been this disappointed in the history of democracy in Nigeria.

Each day I wake up and I see what Nigerians are going through, 2027 election usually comes to my mind, even though it is more than 2 years away. The questions in my mind have been;

- How will this man mount the podium in 2027 to campaign for re-election?
- What will he be telling Nigerians on the podium?

Today, apart from politicians and probably royal fathers, who smile to the bank daily with the largesse from the emperor, every other Nigerian, who depends solely on their efforts for income, is in a state of despair. They are confronted with all forms of challenges they've never faced (all at once) before now. From fuel price hike to naira depreciation and to electricity tariff hike. All have been thrown at them at the same time, pushing millions into deeper poverty without the government delivering anything to the nation as gains from the pains. You pay more for fuel, yet, you still have to queue for the fuel every day. You pay more for electricity but supply is even more epileptic than when it was "cheap".

The prices of goods and services have gone beyond what an average Nigerian can easily afford. It has been a case of "reducing the purchasing power of the people" which we were told during campaign but didn't pay attention to.

The same man will hit the road in about a year time to start canvassing for second term in office. I can't wait for that time to come.

Dapromzy333:
https://news360ng.com/ooni-honors-first-lady-oluremi-tinubu-with-golden-statue-video/

Insanity and what do we call this?

DaddyCoool:
See the exact breakdown below.
Read it and weep!

And the same government can't pay 140k/150k minimum wage to workers. I am sure our colonial masters would be laughing their ass out - and saying "see what they're doing to themselves".... Niggers!

Nigerian elites/leaders (in government and private sector) are jokers. You base the price of fuel, gas, food, other goods and services on exchange rate, but you don't want to consider exchange rate while determining minimum wage for workers who are the consumers.

Isn't it ridiculous that a worker in Nigeria (call him gate man or cleaner or whatever), even after this so-called negotiation with the labor union, may still go home with less than 65k naira per month? This is about 50 dollars per month before tax. It means some workers in Nigeria may not have more than a dollar to live on per day. Anybody earning below $2usd per day is living below the poverty line - this is what UN says. Why is this not a point of discussion and negotiation?

I don't think Labor should accept anything less than $100 equivalent in Naira as minimum wage. Even that amount is inhumane in a country where lawmakers, governors, ministers, etc buy 160-million-naira SUV for themselves with public money. Some have more than 1 SUV in their convoy, all bought with public funds.

highchief1:
if tinubu complete this project in his 8yrs tenure I will take my life.

The whole project can't be completed in 8 years. Even the first phase would take 3 to 4 years to complete, and they have about 4 phases or thereabout.

For us, once the phase 1 (VI to Lekki port/Dangote) is completed, we are fine and we would celebrate it. If not Tinubu, other governments should take it up from there and complete the remaining. Government is a continuum.

Shikena:
How come the Northerners and Middle-Belters are not complaining about this road project? Why is it only the Balotellis of Nigeria?

olori pelebes

Biodun556:
Nigerians must think well before criticizing

Who cares about their criticism? Whoever you need to explain the economic importance of the road to is either an illiterate or an enemy of progress.

Whatever needs to be demolished should be demolished - I can even offer free demolition service to government if required. You can't have it both ways more so that compensations are being paid to the affected people.

What should be our concern is the tradition of the Nigerian government to abandon projects. We must not allow this to happen to the coastal road project. I love the project and I can see the transformation this would be bring, to not only Lagos but all other states it connects.

Ngozi, first lady in Osun where there is Titi? Lai lai!

A won olori buruku. 99% of the members of that so called IPMAN are crooks. If it is an upward price review, price change would be immediate - nobody would talk about old stock.

onatisi:
first of all penkelemess isn't the problem, he is a banker and has no business being in the power sector, we can only solely blame the president for assigning such a very delicate, technical, and science-oriented portfolio to someone who has never been a science student, has no knowledge or experience about anything technical. well, I believe there is a particular reason for that decision, it is an open secret that Penkele is gunning for the Oyo state governorship seat in 2027 and we all know how big the budget is for the power ministry.

secondly, the problem is about policy, since we can't generate enough power, i would have expected the president and his team to have mapped out s strategy to harness renewable energy. it would have been good if govt had partnered with foreign solar product production companies in China to establish in Nigeria and produce solar products for Nigerians at a reduced rate. at least people will have an alternative to nepa

the third is finance, after having those companies set up in Nigeria, the govt can give out loans to FG workers, state workers, and co to purchase these items and pay back, the issue of sending 50k to Nigerians is totally stupid, such measures will not have any effect at all. but the 200 billion spent on that dubious scheme could have been better diverted to better use.

last;y , govt should have set up a research team, which will comprise seasoned scientists and notable policymakers to design a framework for how to reduce the nation's dependence on fossil energy, and hydro energy and to bring out new ways we can better and more effectively harness other potentials in our environment

Thank you.

Why power supply has gone from bad to worse shortly Adelabu took over is what I'm still trying to wrap my head around.
He wants to be Oyo governor and ordinary power ministry he couldn't manage properly. Oyo state people would be looking for something other than good governance to make this one their governor. This assignment has shown beyond reasonable doubt that Adelabu is incompetent.

Power supply has never been this bad. Even NEPA time was better.